In the building of a sustainable society, recycling represents one of the most important factors and makes one of the major contributions. We believe that this is a binding obligation. Recycling must take place with responsibility and knowledge. The members of the Recycling Industries' Association will therefore draw up their environmental objectives and policies on the basis of this document.

Environmental management system
As soon as possible - two years at the latest from the acceptance of this obligation - the company should have introduced ISO 14001, EMAS or its equivalent.

The environmental management system contains the following:

Environmental co-ordinator
The company has an environmental co-ordinator who reports directly to the Managing Director.

Openness
The company has a policy to have an open attitude to the wider world and continuously report its environmental work.

Environmental objectives
The company designs its environmental objectives in accordance with the following guidelines - based among other things on the environmental 'Svenska Miljömål' (Swedish Environmental Goals) Act:

Efforts to strengthen environmental awareness amongst employees, suppliers and the general public.

Efforts to reduce to a minimum all significant detrimental environmental impact in the development of new secondary raw materials and new processes.

Efforts - as early as possible - to identify environmental impact from its own operations or its processes or products.

Efforts to enhance the efficiency of its own utilisation of resources.

Efforts to phase out own utilisation of:

man-made substances that are organic, persistent and bio-accumulative.

man-made substances that are carcinogenic, damaging to genes and disruptive to hormones, including reproductive ones.

mercury.

Energy objectives

The company draws up long-term energy objectives based among other things on efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The company introduces energy objectives in its organisation and thereby makes employees aware of the importance of energy as a resource.

The company adopts an action plan for efficiency-enhancing measures.

Working environment objectives
The company draws up objectives that have as their reference point the work tasks that are created as a consequence of ecocycle adaptation, with the aim of protecting the outdoor environment, while also benefiting those carrying out this work.

Export of residues to Third World countries
The company accepts responsibility for ensuring that the export of residues takes place in a responsible way. Above all, the company has a special responsibility in the export of residues to countries outside the OECD. The company ensures that the recipient country has the necessary competence for receiving the residues and that handling takes place in an ethically acceptable way.

The company's operations on contract or sub-contract basis

Demands relating to sources of residues and waste
The company attempts to obtain the greatest possible knowledge about the contents of the materials handled in the course of its business. The company works to ensure that its sources of residues and waste - in their turn - make demands on their suppliers, with the aim of identifying the substances that are to be removed from the ecocycle.

Environmental objectives
The company endeavours :

To develop procedures in the course of its business that are steadily introduced so that the following substances may be identified and removed from the ecocycle:

man-made substances that are organic, persistent and bio-accumulative.

man-made substances that are carcinogenic, damaging to genes and disruptive to hormones, including reproductive ones.

mercury.

These substances/materials are subsequently removed in a secure manner from the ecocycle for subsequent destruction or final storage.

operations are carried out in such a way that the metals that are handled do not escape into the environment on a scale that leads to the environment and human health suffering possible damage. The aim of this guideline is that it should lead to changes in working methods. In each individual case, every company must ask itself whether the metal is being handled according to the intention in the guidelines. These steps need not be focused primarily on iron and aluminium metals.

operations are carried out so that waste recovery is optimised and that the quantities of waste for storage are minimised.

operations are carried out so that the company can show those supplying residues and waste products how the material has been recycled.

The Swedish Recycling Industries' Association's ethical guidelines:

Performance
The member carries out operations observing good business practice as well as generally safeguarding the standing of the industry. This means that the member acts in such a way that the industry's reputation is not damaged. This occurs by following laws, regulations, the decisions of authorities, etc. as well as by the company actually carrying out what it says it does.

The member keeps itself up to date with laws and regulations relating to the terms and condition of the industry.

Relationship to employees
The member is responsible for actively working to ensure that employees are provided with scope for developing competence in their work, training in environmental knowledge as well as knowledge about the Recycling Industries' ethical guidelines and policy for sustainable recycling. The member actively works for a good working environment, to reduce absenteeism, accidents at work, damage arising from wear, and misuse of drugs. The member can call on company health care.

Relationship to customers
To hire a member of the Recycling Industries' Association is a quality guarantee for the customer. Confidential information and private material that the member has obtained from customers is handled correctly.

Relationship to other players
The member places the same high demands on sub-contractors and co-operation partners as on its own activities. The member does not co-operate with unprofessional customers. The member does not participate in black market work and environmental dishonesty. Activities are carried out in co-operation with companies, organisations and individuals that promote the industry's development and reputation.

Relationship to industry and commerce in general
The member works for healthy competition in the industry. This means, for example, refraining from monopoly or cartel formation. The member's activity is conducted without competition-distorting grants or subsidies. The member does not influence pricing in an inappropriate way, does not impede measures to improve efficiency within industry and commerce, nor otherwise prevent the exercise of business of others. Co-operation is characterised by correct business relations and mutual respect.

Relationship to the public/community
The member actively works to continuously raise the quality of the business as well as to improve safety. The member ensures that the equipment is maintained and handled in a safe way, as well as refraining from use of sub-standard materials and equipment.

The member endeavours to ensure that the business and the equipment of the business, vehicles and employees are positively perceived by third parties.

Relationship to other members
The member behaves correctly towards other members. The member also avoids obstructing the competitor's activity in an improper way.

Environment
The member has its own environmental policy and environmental objectives that are based on the Recycling Industries' policy for sustainable recycling.